This is a study guide commentary which means that you are responsible for your own interpretation of the Bible. Each of us must walk in the light we have. You, the Bible, and the Holy Spirit are priority in interpretation. You must not relinquish this to a commentator.

Read the chapter in one sitting. Identify the subjects (reading cycle #3). Compare your subject divisions with the five translations above. Paragraphing is not inspired, but it is the key to following the original author's intent, which is the heart of interpretation. Every paragraph has one and only one subject.

5. the princes (nobles) of the people (i.e., not Israel, but Gentiles) have assembled themselves, Ps. 47:9

6. the shields of the earth belong to God, Ps. 47:9

7. also possibly the use of Elyon, which is a common designation for the high god of the ANE, implies YHWH's dominance of all other gods (idols, elohims, angels, etc.)

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: PSALM 47:1-41O clap your hands, all peoples;Shout to God with the voice of joy.2For the Lord Most High is to be feared,A great King over all the earth.3He subdues peoples under usAnd nations under our feet.4He chooses our inheritance for us,The glory of Jacob whom He loves. Selah.

The earth is the Lord's (cf. Exod. 9:29; 19:5). He is the creator, sustainer (i.e., Elohim, Genesis 1), and covenant God (i.e., YHWH, Gen. 2:4). There is no other (see SPECIAL TOPIC: MONOTHEISM at Ps. 2:7)!

47:3-4 These verses emphasize the choice of Israel as YHWH's special covenant people (cf. Gen. 12:1-3; Exod. 19:5-6). Israel was meant to be a light to the nations, but she failed (cf. Ezek. 36:22-23; see Special Topic: YHWH's Eternal Redemptive Plan at Psalm 2 Intro.).

Israel's military victories were YHWH's victories (i.e., holy war).

47:4 "inheritance" In the division of the Promised Land (i.e., Joshua 12-19) the Levites were not given land (i.e., but 48 cities, cf. Joshua 20-21). It was said, "YHWH was their inheritance." This wonderful promise was extended as a promise to all Israel and in 1 Pet. 1:4 to all believers!

It is also possible to see this as referring to Canaan (i.e., the Promised Land, Gen. 12:7; 15:12-21; 17:8; Exod. 3:8; Deut. 1:8). It seems that "inheritance" and "glory (BDB 144) of Jacob" are parallel. My reluctance to affirm this is the universal emphasis of the Psalm. The earth, not just Canaan, is the Lord's!

▣ "whom He loves" In the OT, Israel has a central place, but in the NT the gospel of Jesus Christ has a central place (cf. John 3:16; 4:42; 1 Tim. 2:4; 4:10; 1 John 2:1-2; 4:14). Christians must view/interpret the OT through the eyes of the NT, not vice versa!

▣ "Selah" See note at Ps. 3:2 and Introduction to Psalms, VII.

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: PSALM 47:5-95God has ascended with a shout,The Lord, with the sound of a trumpet.6Sing praises to God, sing praises;Sing praises to our King, sing praises.7For God is the King of all the earth;Sing praises with a skillful psalm.8God reigns over the nations,God sits on His holy throne.9The princes of the people have assembled themselves as the people of the God of Abraham,For the shields of the earth belong to God;He is highly exalted.

47:5-9 This strophe focuses on praise to God. Notice the words for vocal affirmation.

Many scholars see 47:5-8 depicting an annual event, where the Israeli king ascended the throne as a symbolic representative of YHWH's universal reign (i.e., ark brought back to the temple after a procession, cf. 2 Sam. 6:15). However attractive this theory, there is little historical evidence.

This term (BDB 968) is used in the MT titles of thirteen Psalms, but only here in the text of a Psalm. BDB says it means "contemplative poem"; KB gives

1. "cult song" (Kittel)

2. "wisdom song performed to music" (Mowinckel)

Derek Kidner, Tyndale OT Commentaries, vol. 15, p. 195, links this word (i.e., Maskil) to Paul's statement in 1 Cor. 14:15. This is interesting but inconclusive. It is often very difficult to identify OT allusions in NT writings.

47:9 This verse implies that all the leaders (i.e., representing their people groups) gather together with Israel (i.e., the people of the God of Abraham, cf. Gen. 12:3; 22:18; Romans 4; Gal. 3:6-9).

The phrase "the shields" is a military imagery for the universal victory of YHWH (cf. Ps. 46:8-11).

YHWH's reign over all the earth is accomplished by His own acts ("highly exalted" — BDB 748, KB 828, Niphal perfect, cf. Ps. 46:10; Isa. 2:11,17; also note John 3:14-15, where the word "lifted up" also means "highly exalted").

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

This is a study guide commentary which means that you are responsible for your own interpretation of the Bible. Each of us must walk in the light we have. You, the Bible, and the Holy Spirit are priority in interpretation. You must not relinquish this to a commentator.

These discussion questions are provided to help you think through the major issues of this section of the book. They are meant to be thought provoking, not definitive.